It may seem weird to you but this foodie is terrified of making preserves. Yes, I know it sounds stupid. I read a book once about a woman who accidentally killed her mother-in-law with her ill-prepared preserves and since then, I have been totally freaked out by the idea of making them. Yet I yearn to do so!
I almost got through my fear yesterday but then I called my mom and she said preserving freezer jam is a mistake, just put it in the freezer instead. I got overwhelmed. I blame the Pisces moon. It was a crappy day yesterday!
I know I will get to both tasks but any additional help would be awesome!
26 comments:
As Suzie wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
It seems to me that at some point, Leonie wrote a post about making air spritzers. Maybe search her blog? As for the preserves, I have no idea, but I know you. You'll find a way.
I read that same book about the woman who killed her mother-in-law with the bad preserves and I can't remember the title of it! Now that's going to drive me crazy all day. But it's true -- you really have to know what you're doing when canning and preserving. Freezer jam is much, much safer!
As Suzie would like for herself, so I would like for her also.
My grandparents made their own preserves all the time, so making preserves isn't something that's ever scared me. They made jam, jelly, pickles, and lots of them! When I was younger they used paraffin wax on jams and jellies, though now that's not advised (hot water bath canning instead should be used), and used hot water bath canning for pickles and such.
I made jelly when I was younger, and it really wasn't difficult - there are a few simple rules to follow when preserving, but they aren't hard. It does get tricky when preserving anything with a lot of tomato content, though, and that's one thing my family never did - low acidity foods must be pressure canned, and we never did that, so I confess that intimidates me somewhat.
I got a basic book from Bernardin years and years ago with lots of recipes as well as instructions on how to safely preserve many kinds of food; I'm sure their website must have loads of information.
I know you well enough to know you'll overcome your fear of preserving. :) I look forward to reading about the results!
As Suzie wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
Good Luck in finding your way through spritzers and preserves, something I know nothing about :)
As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you also. And now I wish I had paid more attention when my grandmothers made preserves! Enjoy the process :)
Sometimes I get overwhelmed and have to remember one sure step infront of the other and I'll get there. Wishing you lots of lovely spritzer making for your room, I can almost smell it!
Thanks for the title tip, Suzie! Yes, my mind is at ease now. It was a good book, wasn't it?
As Suzie wishes for herself, so do I.
There should be a simple ratio formula somewhere on the internet. I know some you can diffuse with water, but I don't think everything.
Another option would be to treat it like potpourri. Heat water on the stove and put a couple of drops on the oil in that.
Your post reminded me of all the canning and preserving we did when I was a child. We used to pick apples and make our own apple sauce too with a hand grinder (long before the days of the food processor).
As Suzie wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
I've been canning my whole life, and so long as you're aware of the risks, then it's really easy. Just make sure to boil everything really well and to keep things sterile. We made jam as our wedding favours this year, and so far, none of my guests have dropped dead. If I can do it safely, then I assure you that you can too :)
BTW, I think we have absolutely the same cookware. I have the same spoon rest, canning set and pot :D
I had the same hesitance- I bought some empty spray bottles to make watercolor paint sprays and I put off making them for ages because I didn't know exactly what to do. Finally, I just went for it and after playing for a while with the paints and water, I figured it out.
I hope you can find the info you need so you can go ahead and play and preserve :)
As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you also.
As Suzie wishes for herself, so I wish also!
As Suzie wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
Good luck with your endeavors!
As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you also :)
As Suzie wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
I never thought of canning as that dangerous -- I grew up with my grandmas and aunts and mother doing it every fall and no one died or even got a little sick and I doubt that any of them had food safety courses, just traditional know how handed down from my great-grandmothers. I have never done it, of course, other than to help out with pickling or canning with people who knew more about it, although I would love to have the chance. Since I don't have a garden and my mother no longer keeps the garden, there just isn't as much to preserve...
I do hope you manage to do it... I'd love to see your progress :)
As Suzie wishes for herself, so I wish for her also. I'm sure you will do great with all your preserves. Relax and try to enjoy the process.
Mmmmm, the smell of cinnamon is such a warm, sexy, comfortable scent! I love it myself!
As Suzie wishes for herself, I also wish for her!
As Suzie wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
As Suzie wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
xxx
As Suzie wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
Here's the post, I think, that Linnea referenced on Leonie's site:
http://www.goddessguidebook.com/ask-goddess-leonie-space-clearing-without-smudge-sticks/
I would probably do a separate spray for each oil, as you're using them for different purposes and it would be easier than trying to decide how to combine them, but that's just me. ;)
Thank you all so much! Your wishes mean the world to me. spiritualsemaphore, it looks like I am going to need water soluble oils according to your link, very helpful, thank you!
As you wish so I wish for you! I love aromatherapy. I wish I did more with it. Have fun!
It's hard to get past being anxious over unknowns, I know. Good luck!
As Suzie wishes for herself, so I wish for her as well.
I remembered a link I found when I was momentarily interested in canning (may still try it, just not this year). It's about how to tell if you got a good seal and also if the preserves have spoiled:
http://www.pickyourown.org/canningqa.htm#Spoilage_
As Suzie wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
Trust in yourself & your abilities... what you are looking for will come to you!
As you wish for yourself, I wish for you also!
Heya Ms. Suzie! I can't tell you a thing about canning, but I do make my own spritzers. I do it intuitively. That way each bottle can be exactly what I wish for it to be. I open the bottles I am drawn to, sit them out in front of me and ask, "Which do I want to be the predominant force?" Then I add a bit of that. Then I go to the next one that calls to me and add a bit of that. I smell it occasionally to see if it feels sweet enough, spicy enough, earthy enough, airy enough. After making a few spritzers, I feel like I know each essence a bit better. I like to use natural waters when they are available, but I am not opposed to tap water. I guess you can tell I don't get too wrapped up in the haf-to's of it. I like being an inner-listening alchemist.
When I am done adding, I like to name the blend and to hold it in my hands so it has a bit of my energy.
As far as any measuring, you might start with about 20 drops per bottle. Divide that up any way you want to get the combo that feels right. If you want it stronger, just go to more drops. If it turns out stronger, pour a bit out onto Mother Earth and add a bit of water.
I would love to hear if you decide to do it. Even if you find your own way. I love the spritzers and often give them as gifts.
I wish I may, I wish I might, wish the wish YOU wish tonight!
Happy spritzing,
Rae
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